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High School Science Fair Winner Claims iPad 2 Disrupts Heart Devices

Doogie Howser may have met his match. New research from high schooler Gianna Chien finds that magnetic energy from the iPad 2 could alter the settings, and therefore the rhythm, of certain cardiac devices.

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THURSDAY, May 9, 2013 — Parents invest in the future of their children all the time, but perhaps cardiologists should follow suit. According to new research presented today at the Heart Rhythm Society's 34th Annual Scientific Sessions, magnets used in the casing of Apple's iPad 2 may hamper the performance of certain heart-helping devices, specifically implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD).

Study author Gianna Chien, a 14-year-old freshman at Lincoln High School in Stockton, Calif., has garnered much attention for her potentially life-saving discovery regarding electromagnetic inference (EMI), which happens when energy released from magnets disturbs the functionality of electronics in close range. Chien's research targets ICDs that are used to monitor and correct heart arrhythmia in patients, mostly seniors, with cardiovascular problems.

Though research already exists on the effect of EMI from other electronic devices like cell phones and microwaves, Chien turned to more recent technology for examination. "I went with mom who had also recently gotten an iPad to an iPad class at an Apple store," she explained. "And when I got there I immediately noticed that practically everyone was probably around 50 to 70 years old."

"My dad, who is a cardiac electrophysiologist, worked with a lot of older patients so that made me realize how many of these people who are also using iPads had ICDs," she said. "I did research and I found out that of other electronic devices that had been studied as potential causes of EMI, no studies had been performed thus far on the iPad."

With the help of her father, Chien recruited 26 patients with ICDs and monitored EMI detection as iPad 2s were placed at both a reading distance from them and directly on their chests to reenact falling asleep while using the device. Results showed that 30 percent of participants experienced magnetic changes in their ICDs as the iPad 2 rested on their chests, while keeping the iPad 2 at a reading distance caused no alterations in the ICD settings.

Chien's research, however, is still extremely preliminary. "In general, there is no significant risk from standard consumer electronics interacting with both pacemakers and defibrillators during normal use," said G. Stuart Mendenhall, MD, assistant professor of medicine at UPMC Cardiovascular Institute. "We have thousands of patients that are able to read with their tablet device, use cellphones, and engage in all normal activities."

Apple has not responded to requests for comment on Chien's study.

Based on her findings, Chien recommends that those with ICDs be cautious of their iPad use and suggests that "for patients who have ICDs and have an iPad 2 to not place the iPad 2 over their ICD on their chest because that's where all the EMI occurs in the study."

Additionally, she supports thorough management of the magnet mode settings on ICDs and recommends "doctors to turn off the change tachy mode with magnet feature that some devices contain which basically makes the devices turn off and stay off even when the magnet is removed ... and turn on magnet mode trigger monitoring so that they can tell if the patient has encountered magnet mode in the past."

The student has definitely become the teacher.

Dr. Mendenhall further adds: "The bottom line is it is nothing to alarm over, and we ask that devices be kept greater than two inches away from the device to avoid any possible interference. Temporarily having the device nearer than this to the pacemaker/defibrillator will not damage it nor be high risk."

Initially, Chien delivered her research at the 55th annual San Joaquin County Science Fair in March, taking home second prize in the high school category. She went on to win third prize in the health and chemistry division at the Sacramento Regional Science Fair and received special recognition from the Society of Biomedical Research. "It originally started as my science fair project," Chien said. "It kinda expanded into this bigger event. I'm really proud that the study is getting so much attention."

Though a future medical career is a potential consideration, this is just the beginning for Chien, who also enjoys writing. Her short-term endeavors aim to explore the effects that magnets in keyboards and body mass index (BMI) may have on heart-related devices as well.

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